Wanderlust Wednesday - St Raphael, French Riveria

Sometimes when you're traveling the best laid plans go awry. We planned on going from Nice to St Tropez in a day which required a long train ride followed by a bus, having lunch there and then heading straight back. Yet being at the mercy of delayed (retarded I believe is the French term) trains and buses left us stranded in a town called St Raphael.

Being stuck on the French Riveria is not a bad thing. If I were a celebrity, I'd avoid Cannes and St Tropez to avoid the paparazzi and holiday with the locals. St Raphael has a buzzing cafe strip, local markets selling inexpensive beach gear and fashion boutiques for a spot of shopping in the main town. It feels much more relaxed and less touristy than Nice or Cannes.

As for St Tropez, maybe next summer?

Wanderlust Wednesday - Salad Nicoise in Paris

I miss Parisian food. Somehow since being in London the produce just isn't the same.

In Paris I was served this delightfully large salad nicoise. Fresh greens with the right balance of saltiness from the anchovies, olives and dressing. If I could only replicate it somehow...it's so simple but yet so good.

Wanderlust Wednesday - Disneyland, Paris, France

Is Disneyland, Paris a place where dreams come true?

Whether you're six or sixty years old, Disneyland effortlessly charms you with it's fairytale magic. Even though it's artificial, the children around you are high on sugar and you may get stuck in line for the Thunder Mountain roller-coaster - you can't help but feel like you've escaped to a place of innocent fun. Disneyland is the only place in the world where you can unleash your inner princess...just for one day.

Wanderlust Wednesday - Cannes, France

Being in the French Riveria in high season makes you want to be a billionaire. The bay is crowded with luxury yachts. Sports cars speed down the promenade. Along the beach front are five star hotels and designer boutiques. The original Chanel store at shop number five on the main boulevard apparently inspired the name of the Chanel no. 5 perfume.

If you're like me and prefer not to pay for the beach, the public section offers you a priceless dip in the sea for free.

Wanderlust Wednesday - Paris

A beautiful day in Paris, December 2006

Je pars en vacances à Paris en juillet.


I am going on holiday to Paris in July. Recently I met a bubbly French lady when I was selling off my shoes, clothes and jewellery at the markets.


After purchasing a substantial collection of my earrings for $7, she told me how she met her Aussie husband in Paris, whilst he was on a working holiday. 


He spent eight years over there until they finally moved back to Australia together. Now she is visiting Paris with her daughter also en juillet. 


Her advice was, "just tell everyone you are Australian, they will love you!"


Je suis Australienne! 


Everyone loves a Parisian love story. 

Wanderlust Wednesday - Nice, France

This photo was taken in December 2006.

The south of France brings to mind glitz and glamour such as sunbathing in designer bathers whilst cruising along the coastline in a million-dollar yacht.

The experience isn't quite like that on a Contiki tour. It's an all day drive from Barcelona to Nice. Even though the bus is hardly a limo, the views of the mountains and mediterranean landscape makes up for this. Also - rather than drinking champagne, we were drinking 3 euro cocktails at Wayne's Bar and eventually ended up dancing on the tables...

Nice isn't a huge tourist hub in winter. At the beginning of winter the weather was mild enough to walk around the township with a decent coat without feeling frostbitten. Wearing black buttoned coats and walking toy dogs are the de riguer for shopping along Ave Jean Médecin.

To explore, it's easy to walk around the relatively flat city. It has a relaxed vibe and you're perhaps less likely to be berated if you don't attempt to speak French - although a friendly bonjour always goes a long way.

The best place for a leisurely stroll is the Promenade des Anglais along the beach. Avoid the cyclists and rollerbladers and breathe in the sea air. Traipse down to the shoreline of the rocky beach, feel the weight of the flat pebbles or "gallets" in your hand and collect a couple for the road. It's priceless.